I was so excited about this. I can’t tell you how excited I was, in fact. This was mostly because when the tour stopped at the Discovery Times Center in New York City it was a previously unscheduled stop.

You must, must, must go see this in person. It’s amazing!

New York also served as the tour’s final stop in the United States before it headed abroad. [Read more…]

It’s no secret that one of my favourite book series of all-time is Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling.

As the second part of the final film, Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part II, approaches I couldn’t help but stop and think about its author and her story.

And as the story goes, Rowling wrote the first novel and the major crux of her ideas on napkins because she was too poor to afford paper, had been a horrendous, tumultuous relationship and was left with a baby and on her own.

“The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches … born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies … and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not … and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives … the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies …”

– Sybill Trelawney prophesying to Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)

The prophecy that was overheard by Severus Snape set into motion a series of events that connected Lord Voldemort and Harry Potter altering their lives forever.

Lord Voldemort sought out to stop the prophecy instead brought it to life, giving Harry a lightning scar and himself becoming mangled.

Destiny is best described both sharing striking similarities: half-bloods, orphaned, and viewed Hogwarts as their first real home.

But it is the differences that ultimately mattered with Voldemort caring about no one but himself and Harry holding a love of others.

The final drink Mixology post is dedicated to the Dark Lord and the Boy Who Lived! [Read more…]

By Gryffindor, the bravest were
Prized far beyond the rest;
For Ravenclaw, the cleverest
Would always be the best;

For Hufflepuff, hard workers were
Most worthy of admission;
And power-hungry Slytherin
Loved those of great ambition.

–Sorting Hat (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)

Hogwarts is divided into four living and learning communities named after the four founders: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin.

As Professor McGonagall stated in the Sorcerer’s Stone, [Y]our house will be something like your family. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room. [Read more…]

“They were a motley collection; a mixture of the weak seeking protection, the ambitious seeking some shared glory, and the thuggish gravitating toward a leader who could show them more refined forms of cruelty.”

– Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)

The Death Eaters are the followers of Lord Voldemort.

They are known for their black hoods, masks, and the Dark Mark burned on to their left forearms.

Cruel and ruthless, Death Eaters fought for pure-blood ideals and to take control over muggles and the wizarding world alike.

Devoted to the leader, they both feared and revered, they fought valiantly in his honor knowing deflection and disloyalty meant torture and ultimately death.

In celebration of this evil group, prepare for cocktails that prove being bad never tasted so good. [Read more…]

“Eternal glory! That’s what awaits the student who wins The Triwizard Tournament, but to do this that student must survive three tasks. Three extremely dangerous tasks.”

– Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire film)

The Triwizard Tournament was comprised of four Champions from three of the largest wizarding schools in Europe: Fleur Delacour from the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, Viktor Krum from Durmstrang Institute, and Cedric Diggory and Harry Potter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Chosen from the Goblet of Fire, each of the Champions risked their lives to bring honor to their schools, and glory to themselves.

It is only fitting that they be honored with cocktails that represent each of their unique talents (Harry Potter will be featured at a later date).

The Goblet of Fire

The Goblet of Fire is an impartial judge used to decide which Champion from each school will compete for fame, fortune, and eternal glory.

Impartial but dangerous, once a name is chosen from the Goblet the participant must compete, entering into a binding magical contract.